Alexander the Great and Roxane

Russian collections have few large works by Rotari, who came to
Russian in 1756 but worked mainly as a portrait artist. He was
equally admired by three successive monarchs, Elizaveta Petrovna,
Peter III and Catherine II. This canvas was executed for Ekaterina
Alexeevna for her palace at Oranienbaum.

This episode from the history of Alexander the Great comes from
Plutarch . During a siege of a fortress in Bactria, the eastern
part of the Persian state of Darius III, Roxane - daughter of a
Bactrian satrap or nobleman - was captured. In an effort to gain
the support of the Persian aristocracy, Alexander married her.
Rotari here shows Alexander's meeting with Roxane, who is
surrounded by weeping slaves and stands modestly before the amazed
military commander.

Soft pale blue, pink and yellowish-brown tones form an elegant
colour range, giving the Classical composition something of the
elegance and lightness of the Rococo style.

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